Why Building Disaster Resilient Communities is Everybody's Business

2:44 AM

In our world where extremes in social and economic standing exist, disasters can be the undesirable equalizer. No one is absolutely safe from its effects, not even the rich and the mighty. Disasters can snatch lives, destroy properties, and create complete chaos in the wink of an eye. This explains why building disaster-resilient communities is everybody's business.

The Chilling StatisticsBeing located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is prone to volcanic eruption, earthquake, and thunderstorm. It comes 2nd in the list of most disaster-prone countries in the world. An average of 20 typhoons visit the country every year. Millions of houses are damaged, several million lives affected with disasters striking even before we are able to recover from the previous ones.There is nothing man can do that will effectively stop natural disasters from happening. This is simply beyond our control. What we can control however is the number of casualties and the amount of damage that will result when they do come. This is by helping build disaster resilient communities which will not only prepare for the worst but are likewise ready to rise even when considerably hit. This can only be possible if everyone understands that each has a role to play in achieving this goal.

2016 Disaster Resiliency ForumCebuana Lhuillier Microinsurance is advocating for disaster resilience as it commits to support initiatives to build disaster resilient communities. It believes that everyone must be empowered to prepare themselves against crises of this nature. The holding of the 2016 Ready: Disaster Resiliency Forum - The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster-Resilient Communities last January 27 is one concrete step towards this goal.

Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier

The forum sought to bring together all stakeholders. It is no secret that it would need the collaboration and support from all relevant institutions including the government, private corporations, NGOs, and the citizens themselves to start the ball rolling. Keynote speakers during the event came from various entities namely the Insurance Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, ASEAN Insurance Council, Project NOAH, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance SolutionsCebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) serves as the insurance arm of Cebuana Lhuillier. It is primarily promoting Microinsurance as a tool to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. One very good example of this is a story of Yolanda survivors who were able to bounce back faster after the disaster because the father who died during the onslaught of the typhoon was able to buy an Alagang Cebuana Plus microinsurance policy months before the tragedy struck. To date, more than 6 Million Filipinos are insured through the company's various insurance products.Consumers can also consider Alagang Cebuana Plus-Gold, Builderscare, EmployeeCare, HomeCare, LessorCare, MotorCare, Autocare, SecurityCare, StudentCare, TanodCare, and TodaCare. My SayDisasters are constant threats to us Filipinos and we are left with no choice but to live with that reality. However, accepting this truth should not mean complacency as there is something that can be done to lessen their impact.That said, let us make it our business to make our country more disaster-resilient by ensuring the same for our own communities. If we will all do our part, then there is really nothing impossible.